Steam iron having regenerating means



Nov. 25, 1947. R. L. DYKES STEAM IRON HAVING REGENERATING MEANS Filed June 11, 1945 INVEN TOR.

Roy L. Dyke's BY MM ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 25, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STEAM IRON HAVING REGENERATING MEANS 2 Claims.

My invention relatesto a pressing iron and more particularly to a pressing iron that emits small jets of steam upon the material being pressed, to aid in the pressing operation.

An object of my invention is to provide in such an iron means to re-vaporiz'e' condensate so that only dry steam is discharged upon the material being pressed;

Another object is to provide in such an iron means to prevent moisture spots on the material being pressed by using an effective re-vaporizer in the steam line in the iron that feeds the steam to the pressing surface.

My invention also has for its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a working position and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combination and arrangements of parts, which Will more fully appear in the course of the following description. However, the drawings merely show and the followll'lg description merely describes one embodiment of the present invention, which is given by way of illustration or example only.

In the drawings, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a horizontal sectional View through a pressing iron embodying the foregoing objects.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevational view of a revaporizer employed in the pressing iron.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the reference numeral 6 generally designates the sole plate of a pressing iron having a suitable hood I. An electric heating element 8 comprising a Wire coil 51 encased in an insulating material It] is arranged upon and in heating relation to. the sole plate 6. It is believed clear to those skilled in the art that suitable thermostatic means may be employed for controlling the heating element 8. The heating element 8' is disposed in a horse-shoe shape, with its binding posts l2 and I3, respectively, connected with strips 14 and I that in turn carry studs I5 and I! for connecting with an electric cord (not shown). The electric heating element per se forms no part of the present invention, and since it is well known to those skilled in the art, further illustration or description are deemed unnecessary.

The sole plate 6 has a plurality of connecting bores that are provided with steam by an inlet connection IS. The bore i9 is first connected with the inlet l8, which in turn is connected by a short bore with an enlarged bore 2|. Screw lugs 22 and 23, respectively, close the outer ends of the bores. 20 and 2|.

Aligned with the bore 2| is a reduced bore 24 that connects with a cross bore 25 whosev outer end is closed with a plug 26. A longitudinal bore 25 provides a connection between the cross bore 25 and a short bore 2'! that empties into another enlarged bore 28 on the opposite side of the sole plate. 6 from the enlarged bore 2|. Plugs 29, 30 and 3! close the outer ends of the bores 2", 21 and 2 8, respectively.

The bore 28 is reduced in diameter, as shown at 32, and connects thereby with a pair of V-arranged bores 33 and 34 in the tip of the sole plate 6. Plugs 35 and 36, respectively. close the bores 33 and 34. The bores 33 and 34 have series of ports 3'! through the bottom of the sole plate 6, so that steam in the bores 33 and 34 may discharge on to the work material being pressed. Recesses 38 in the outer faces of the tip of the iron, receive buttons in order to press under the same.

Means to re-vaporize supersaturate steam that condenses in the bores comprise helically grooved, heat-conductive members 40 that are placed in the enlarged bores 2! and 28 at the sides of the sole plate 6. Besides the helical, square, threadlike groove 6| in each of said members, a plurality of gradually spiraling grooves 42 cut crosswise of the thread-like groove ll in each of the members All. The thread-like groove ll in each member 40 provides helical paths for the steam to follow in traveling through the bores containing the, members 46. In order to prevent the grooves 4! from clogging up and stopping the movement of steam therealong, the cross cuts 42 are provided. Being heat-conductive and being mounted in the conductive sole plate 6, the members Ml are adapted to be heated by the electric heating element 8 to a point above the vaporizing point of the steam, whereby to cause reevaporation of condensate in the grooves 4i and 42.

The members to have circumferentially grooved portions 44 at their inlet ends opposite the bores 28 and 21, to freely admit the steam to the bores 2| and 28, respectively. At thedischarge ends, the re-vaporizing members M] are recessed, as shown at 45, and a plurality of openlugs 46 extend through the shell provided by the 3 recess 45, whereby steam passes from the grooves 41 and 42 through the openings 46 into the recess 45 and from there passes into the reduced bore ends 24 and 32, respectively. The tapped end 41 aids in the cutting of the grooves 4| and 42.

In the use or operation of my present pressing iron, the studs I6 and I! are connected with suitable electric cord means (not shown), while the inlet I8 is connected with a suitable flexible conduit (not shown) for supplying supersaturate steam from a convenient source (not shown).

The steam travels a circuitous passage formed by the bores in the sole plate, in the following order: I9, 20, 2|, 24, 2'5, 26, 21, 28, 32, 33 and 34. The steam is discharged from the ports 31 in the bores 33 and 34 onto the work material being pressed. The electric heating element 9 heats the sole plate 6 and its contained bores and its contained re-vaporizing elements 40.

'Steam from the passages 20 and 2! enters the bores 2| and 28, respectively, at the circumferential groove 44 of the revaporizer element 40. Thence it travels through the helical and slightly spiral grooves 4| and 42 to the openings 46, through same and into the recess 45. Following this circuitous route revaporizes condensate from the steam, so that the discharge of moisture, except in the form of steam, is practically eliminated at the ports 37.

While I have illustrated and described what I now regard as the preferred embodiment of my invention, the construction is, of course, subject to modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I, therefore, do not wish to restrict myself to the particular form of construction illustrated and described, but desire to avail myself of all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a pressing iron, the combination of a sole plate having a passage therethrough and ports to discharge steam from the passage to the work being pressed, and a steam regenerating device 'in said passage, said device comprising an elongated body having at one end a circumferentially grooved portion for the admission of steam to said body, said body having an external helical groove and a plurality of gradually spiraling grooves intersecting the helical groove, the other end of said body having an inwardly extending recess, and the wall of said recess provided with openings for the passage of steam from the outside of said body to the inside thereof and to the passage through the sole plate.

2. In a pressing iron having a sol plate provided with ports for the discharge of steam to work being pressed and a steam passage, a steam regenerating means comprising a cylindrical body having an external helical thread and a gradually spiraling groove, said body having at one end a circumferential groove to receive and conduct steam through said spiral and helical grooves, the other end of said body being recessed to connect with the passage through said sole plat and the wall of said recess being perforated to conduct steam from the outside of said body to the inside thereof and to said passage, and means to heat said body.

ROY L. DYKES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,447,535 DeAtley Mar. 6, 1923 1,674,092 Brewer June 19, 1928 1,942,579 Sussman Jan. 9, 1934 2,070,710 Clark Feb. 16, 1937 2,146,431 Homoky Feb. 7, 1939 2,294,578 Shapiro et al Sept. 1, 1942 

